The Place of Service

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it”

Prov. 3:27

This verse speaks to us of opportunity and ability.

1) Opportunity. The description in Proverbs is not meant as a moral evaluation (i.e. I’ll help him if I think he deserves it). “Let us do good to all,” the Word of God tells us (Gal. 6:10), exemplifying the principle of grace.“Those to whom [good] is due” are our neighbours. These can be broadly defined as any whom circumstances bring across our path, those with whom we come in contact day by day.

2) Ability. “When it is in the power of your hand to do it.” We are to use what we have–what He has given us–in the Lord’s service. In the words of John Wesley, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

The parable of the Good Samaritan gives us a beautiful instance of the intersection of these two points (Lk. 10:30-37). When he came upon the injured man, he seized the opportunity presented and used the resources God had given to help him.